Classical yoga seeks to so discipline the mind that the practitioner no longer identifies his (or her) thoughts and sensory perceptions with his sense of self.  It also seeks to release a life force called prana so that it may freely move through the human body via seven psychic centers called chakras.  These objectives are accomplished by following Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga, which include moral, physical, and mental disciplines.

There are four major approaches to yoga in India:

(1)  bhakti yoga is devotion to a personal God;

(2)  jnana yoga involves intellectual discretion;

(3)  karma yoga emphasises good works;

(4)  raja yoga is concerned with mind control and consists of the eight limbs of Patanjali.

Within raja yoga exist numerous distinctive minor approaches, including:

(a)  kundalini yoga, which seeks enlightenment through raising the serpentine 'kundalini energy';

(b)  tantra yoga, which seeks enlightenment uniting polar energies, sometimes involving illicit behavior;

(c)  hatha yoga, which seeks enlightenment indirectly by preparing body and mind for meditation.

There are so many varieties of yoga that a person trying to keep up with them can easily become lost.  Part of the confusion comes from the fact that the term yoga is used for entire life approaches to union with God that may not even involve sitting in yogic postures, controlling one's breath, and concentrating on a mantra or madala.

Three of these major approaches - bhakti, Jnana, and karma - are also known as margas or paths to moksha.

The fourth major approach to yoga or union with God - raja yoga - is essentially the eight limbs of Patanjali that includes everything we normally associate with yoga.  For this reason it is also known as ashtanga (eight-limbed) yoga.

Then, within the larger category of raja yoga are many subcategories or minor approaches that also have distinctive names, adding to the confusion.

Some of these involve only aspects of raja yoga (e.g., hatha yoga and Transcendental Meditation); others are distinctive approaches to raja yoga that involve all eight limbs but have their own distinguishing emphases (e.g., kundalini yoga and tantra yoga).

There is also much overlap among the various yoga approaches so that elements of one approach are often employed by people who identify themselves as practitioners of another approach.

I will do my best to sort it all out for you [in the following articles]:

Bhakti Yoga

Jnana Yoga

Karma Yoga

Raja Yoga

Kundalini Yoga

Tantra Yoga

Hatha Yoga

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)

© Elizabeth McDonald     http://www.bayith.org     bayith@blueyonder.co.uk